Man vs Horse, Comrades, Adidas 1 Hour challenge, Dorney Lake Triathlon, 5k Speedy Steeds, Weald Challenge ultra

This report covers races over the last two weeks – and the range of events and distances is wide and varied - from track to ultras with everything in between.

Swim Run event – Tooting Bec Lido, 6th June
Simon reported: “On Wednesday eve (6th June) I took part in a Swimrun event at Tooting Bec Lido. It consisted of 4 swims each followed by 4 runs (each of varying distances). Total distances were 1k swim / 8.8k run. I finished 12th overall in 1:09:52”

Dorney Lake Triathlon,  at the Olympic Distance (1.5k swim/40k bike/10k run) 9th June

Simon then took part later, at the weekend in the Olympic distance Dorney Lake triathlon, finishing a healthy 36th overall in 2:29:13 and came 1st in the 50-59 Men's Age Group.His splits were - Swim 30:15 / Bike 1:08:16 / Run 47:08.

South of England Championships, Woodford Green Open and Watford Open
At the South of England Champs on 9th and 10th June, Jacob reported: "There were three Heathsiders in action.  Good performances from all three, but the highlight was (second claim) Finsbury Park regular Andrew Penney getting the silver in the 5000m in a big PB of 14:36.42 having run a heat the day before."  There was also some impressive running at Woodford Green Open on 12th with Andrew Brooker coming 1st in 800m and at Watford Open on 13th, with a noteworthy run from Rosa Serafini completing 800m in 2:15.43 - a season's best for her!

Comrades, 10th June, Pietermaritzburg
The 93rd Comrades Marathon took places on 10th June – 1K longer than it’s usual 89k. It starts in Pietermaritzburg and finishes in Durban, South Africa. Three brave Heathsiders took part in this  - Dave Hellard, Rob Shulman and Michael Stocks – all having excellent races. Jane Stephens wrote: “Amazing day at Comrades which was 1k longer this year! Dave H had a brilliant debut running 6.59. Clare his partner also had a debut completed the course in I think 7.45. Michael ran his tenth race in 6.48 and now has a green number. Rob as many of you know has had a big knee problem which meant he was unable to train (well really since August last year!). He went out with the intention of running for a few miles to enjoy the start but he showed incredible fortitude and finished! “ Well done to all.

St Albans Half marathon 10th June
Emilia ran at the St Alban’s half and enjoyed it more or less, despite the heat. She wrote: "It’s a great, perfectly-organised race, raising money for local causes, through country roads around St Albans.  Despite the scenery, it was a struggle, with the heat, a bad stitch at mile 3, followed by never-ending hills.  The highlight of the run was perhaps the ice lolly handed out at the finish.  In the end, it was a great learning experience and I was grateful just to finish at around my average time (1:42:51).   I didn't see any other Heathsiders, but they may have finished ahead of me."

Battersea Park Sri Chinmoy 5K, Monday 11th June
There were some excellent times at the ever popular Sri Chinmoy Monday evening 5K event. The five Heathsiders who ran were led home by Michael Cockings coming home in a time of 17.39, beating Joe McKeown by 5 seconds.

Weald Challenge Ultra, East Sussex 50K, 10th June
On Sunday Pete Bakewell did his first ultra, and modestly wrote this report: "The Weald Challenge is a 50km trail race through fields, forests and the High Weald in East Sussex. A beautiful course through some parts. After starting at a good pace, I faded in the heat over the last 10 miles and was ready for it to be over! it was good enough to finish in 9th place in 4 hrs and 35 mins. A nice touch at the end was a homemade mug for each finisher and unlimited free coffee to feel human again."

Man vs Horse Llanwrtyd Wells, Mid Wales. 10th June
Jack Hardy wrote this report: "I undertook one of the more unusual challenges in the sporting calendar this weekend at the Man v Horse race in Llanwrtyd Wells, Mid Wales. The race is exactly what the name suggests - around 1,100 runners taking on 40 or so horses across 22 miles of challenging terrain.
 
I competed as part of a three-man relay team, running an eight-mile section - including a joyless, two-mile hill - in the middle. I'm pleased to report that I did not meet my maker under a hail of hooves, instead completing the section in around 57 minutes (sixth place chip time for the stretch, which includes horses!). To my great surprise, I caught every mare that overtook me because, apparently, they can't negotiate steep descents that easily. We finished as the 15th place men's team. Victoria Park Harriers seemed to have about half their club there, including the first and second place solo runners - dominance we surely can't let go unchallenged next year (Rob Jackson Trophy grand finale?)."

Adidas City Runs one hour challenge, Central London, 17.06.18
This brand new event was held near St Pauls . Tammela, Jack Hardy and Liam Hazelton were the only Heathsiders as far as I can see - it's impossible to search the results by club, and as everyone was wearing the same race shirt it was difficult to spot other club members.  Tammela tells her story: "Liam and I ran the Adidas City Runs - 1 Hour event on Sunday 17/6. Run on a closed 1-mile loop in the City, the aim is to run as far as you can in one hour. It definitely flipped the mental race game on its head: rather than going as fast as you can so you're done sooner, in this event you have to keep running for an hour, no matter what! The energy on the course was brilliant - I loved the steel drum band at the first corner of the loop, and there were a couple of other spots blasting upbeat music. It definitely helped. The course was full but not overcrowded, thanks to multiple starting waves. There were chip timing mats every 0.1 miles, and they take the final mat you cross as your distance completed for the hour. Liam managed just over 9 miles and I ran just over 7.9 miles. It was a well-organised event and fun to do a different sort of running challenge. For the somewhat steep (unless you're a triathlete) entry fee of £40, you get a nice t-shirt and free race photos -- not too bad. A highly recommended event." Jack Hardy came in 32nd place in 9.4 miles.

10 mile Time Trial, E14a/10 course, Navestock Heath 15.06.18
Dave Walton headed over to Navestock Heath  on Friday and took part in a 10 mile time trial, finishing in an amazing time of 28.44!

Battersea Park Speedy steeds 5K ,18th June
Another of the Battersea Park 5K races was held on a big match night, but this didn’t appear to deter the determined. Nine Heathsiders were racing, and Pete Crockford was 1st V60, and shaved 14 seconds off the club record with his time of 18.56 and Kelly Thorneycroft was 2nd U50 in a time of 18.24.

Park runs:
Last week’s results 9th June can be found here and of note: Liam Garrett came first in 16.03 at Grovelands, Olivia Desborough first lady in 19.35 at Highbury Fields, Stuart Meiklejohn first man in 18.26 at Oakhill, Amy Cook first lady in 18.44 at Burgess Parkrun and Chiara Borg first lady in 21.06 at Barry Island parkrun.

This past weekend 16th June, results can be found here. The women did amazingly this week – Louisa Pointon was first lady at Coventry parkrun in 20.34, Olivia Desborough first lady in 19.29 at Highbury Fields parkrun, Amy Cookfirst lady in 18.56 at Burgess Parkrun, Rebecca Bunting was first lady in 17.59 with a PB at Worthing and Elizabeth Beard was first lady in 22.20 at Mullingar.

FULL RESULTS

Swim/run event at Tooting Bec Lido, 1k swim / 8.8k run 6th June
12th Simon Hazel 1:09:52

Dorney Lake Triathlon, (Olympic Distance (1.5k swim/40k bike/10k run) 9th June
Simon Hazel: 36th overall in 2:29:13  1st in the 50-59 Men's Age Group
Splits were - Swim 30:15 / Bike 1:08:16 / Run 47:08

Weald Challenge Ultra, East Sussex 50K, 10th Jun
9th Pete Bakewell 4 hrs 35 mins

St Albans Half marathon 10th June
380  Emilia Vynnycky   1:42:51

Man vs Horse Llanwrtyd Wells, Mid Wales. 10th June
Jack Hardy 15th place men’s team

Comrades, 10th June, Pietermaritzburg
Michael Stocks 6.48.14
David Hellard 6.58.30
Rob Shulman 10.48.31

Battersea Park Sri Chinmoy 5K, Monday 11th June
47th Michael Cockings M 00:17:39 38 M U/50 44
49th Joseph McKeown M 00:17:44 34 M U/50 46
98th Jack Pinnick-Gray M 00:19:15 24 M U/50 86
107 Philip Hogg M 00:19:44 48 M U/50 94
186 Gabi Johnson F 00:23:47 49 W U/50 24

South of England champs, Bedford 9th /10th June
MU20 400m, heat 2
5th Luke Gray 51.41

SW 1500m, heat 2
7th Kelly Thorneycroft 4:48.66

SM 5000m, heat 1
3rd Andrew Penney 15:15.34

SM 500m, final
2nd Andrew Penney 14:36.42

Woodford Green Open, 12/6/18
100m, race 6
5th Rufus Tansey 12.37

200m, race 6
7th Rufus Tansey 25.33

200m, race 7
5th Luke Gray 24.18 (PB)

800m, race 4
2nd Lucas Maher 2:23.9

800m, race 5
1st Andrew Brooker 2:03.2 (PB)

3000m
2nd William Griffiths 9:44.4

10th Jack Davis-Black 10:43.7 (PB)

Watford Open, 13/6/18

800m, race 5
6th Ella Conlon 2:29.26 (PB)

800m, race 7
11th Oliver O'Connor 2:26.76 (PB)

800m, race 9
3th Rosa Serafini 2:15.43

Adidas City Runs one hour challenge, Central London, 17.06.18
32 Jack Hardy 9.4 miles
81 Liam Hazleton  - 9 miles
453 Tammela Platt - 7.9 miles

10 mile Time Trial, E14a/10 course, Navestock Heath 15.06.18
Dave Walton 28.44

Battersea Park Speedy Steeds 5K 18th June
11th Sion Lewis 00:16:49 35 M U/50 10
32nd Richard Murphy 00:18:12 29 M U/50
37th Kelly Thorneycroft 00:18:24 28 W U/50 2
43rd Mark Jefford 00:18:42 52 M Vet 50 6
52nd Pete Crockford 00:18:56 60 M Vet 60 1
58th Lily Woolcock 00:19:45 22 W U/50 5
60th Steffi Luker Edwards 00:19:48 19 W U/50 6
76th Jennifer Wing 00:21:04 26 W U/50 12
95th Gabi Johnson 00:23:14  W U/50 15